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Former India cricketer Zaheer Khan believes that Virat Kohli can go on to join Sachin Tendulkar as the only batters to score 100 international centuries. This comment comes after the 37-year-old brought up his 84th international century during India's second ODI against South Africa. With the 2027 ODI World Cup coming up, India will be playing quite a lot of ODIs next year and thus Kohli will have a chance to score more hundreds.
Zaheer suggested that it may be hard for Kohli to reach the massive milestone before the 2027 ODI World Cup, but backed him to achieve the record if he chooses to continue playing beyond the tournament. With the star batter now only active in the ODI format, reaching the milestone has become an even more difficult task for him.
“It isn’t going to be easy, I would say. I know I am putting my neck out right now, but if you are looking at it, there are 30-35 ODIs. He can play beyond that as well. But if you ask me if it is possible in 35 ODIs, then you are talking about a hundred every other innings," Zaheer said while speaking on Cricbuzz.
“If you limit it to just till the World Cup, in 36 innings and all those things, then it is debatable," he added.
Zaheer's praise for Kohli and Gaikwad
Zaheer further went on to shower praise on both Kohli and Ruturaj Gaikwad for their mammoth 195-run stand that helped the Men in Blue in posting a humongous total of 359/6 on the board in the second ODI.
“That partnership between Ruturaj and Virat was a standout; there is no doubt about that. If you look at Virat’s strike rate in this series, it is definitely a talking point. It is very evident that he is looking to be aggressive from the word go," Zaheer stated.
Kohli aiming for a third consecutive ton
Meanwhile, Kohli will be looking to make it three centuries from as many matches in the third and final ODI of the series against South Africa that will be played on December 6 at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
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